New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-07-20


3 natural right to liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness; that governments are
instituted for the sole purpose Of secur-
ing the welfare Of the people; that the
people have natural right to alter the
government whenever it becomes de-
#structive of liberty; that the government
of George III had become destructive Of
liberty; that the despotism of the king
and his ministers could be shown by q
large list of indisputable proofs and
the proofs are given; that time and again
the colonies had humbly petitioned for a
redress of grievances; that all the petit
lions had been spurned with derision
and contempt; that the kings irrational
tyranny over his American subjects was
no longer endurable; that an appeal to
the sword is preferable to slavery; and
that therefore the United Colonies of
America are, and of right ought to be-,
free and independent states. To the
support of this sublime declaration of
principles the members of the Cont
mental Congress mutually pledged their
lives. their fortunes and their sacred
honor.
Those noble men, who by their acts
earned the gratitude of all mankind,
were: John Hancock, Jonah Bartlett,
William Nipple. Mathew Thorton. Sam
uel Adams, John Adams, Robert Paine,
Elbridge Gerry, Stephen Hopkins, Will
liam Enery, Roger Sherman, Samuel
Huntington, William Williams, Oliver
Wolcott, VIM. Floyd, Philip Livingston,
Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris, Richard
Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis
Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark,
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benja-
min Franklin, John Morton, George
Clymer, James Smith, George Tylor,
James Wilson, George Ross, Cesar Rod
ney, George Read, Thomas Mexican.
Samuel Chase, VIM. Paca, Thomas
Stone, Chss. Carroll. George White,
Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson,
Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson II,
Francis Lightfoot Lee. Carter Braxton.
VIM. Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn,
Edward Ruthled ge, Thos. Hayward L.,
Thos. Linch jr., Arthur Middleton, But.
ton Grinnet, Lyman Hall and George
Walton. From this to the 18th day Of
October, 1881, when CORVALLIS surren-
dered at Yorktown, the Americans under
Washington, Lafayette, >teuben, Knox
and 5: host of other able commanders
fought with intrepid valor. to secure as
well to the American people as to all
nations OF the earth the human rights
expressed in the Declaration of indie
pendence; therefore the war OF Ameri.
can independence was an event of vast
moment affecting the destinies of ma
tons. The question decided by the con-
dict was this: Whether the English
colonies in America becoming sovereign
should govern themselves or be ruled
as dependencies OF European monar-
chy.-The decision was rendered in ia
vor OF Separation and Independence
The result has been the grandest and
most promising example of republican
government in the history of the
world. Let us consider the immense
benefit which The American war and
final independence conferred not only
upon native americans, but upon all
people Of whatever nationality. From
the day of the Declaration of Independ-
ence to the day we now celebrate, it has
opened q safe asylum to the oppressed
and prosecuted; It has bestowed upon the
poor large and fertile lands; Uncle Sam
gave farm to all who asked for it
The visions aud dreams of the revolu-
tionary patriots have been eclipsed BY
the luster OF actual accomplishments. -
The territorial domain of the Republic
encloses the grandest belt of forests,
valleys and plains that the world has in
it. Since the beginning of time no other
people have possessed such a territory
SO rich in resources, so varied in prod
ucts, so magnificent in physical aspect.
Soil and climate, the distribution of
woods, aud lakes, and rivers, the inter-
position of mountain ranges and the fer
tility ofvalleys and prairies, here contrib
ute TO give man many-sided and pow
erful development. Here he finds
bays for his shipping, rivers for his
steamers, fields for his pillow, iron for
his forge, gold for his cupidity, land
scapes for his pencil, sunshine enough
for song. and snow enough for cour-
age. Nor has the Anglo-American
failed to profit by the advantages of his
surroundings. He has planted a free
government on the largest and most lib
eral scale known in history He has
fought as hero for freedom and equal
ity Of all men. He has projected civ
ilization which, though as yet but dine
II traced in outline, is the vastest and
grandest in the world. Better than all,
he believes in the times to come. So
long as man is anxious for the future,
the future is secure. Only when he
falls into apathy. sleeps at his post, and
cares no longer for the morrow, is the
world in danger of relapse and barbar-
ism.
Let US now before closing consider
our duties to preserve intact the sacred
trust confded to our care by our fore
fathers and deliver the same down to
posterity.
To the thoughtful student OF history
several things seem necessary to the
5perpetnity and complete success OF
American institutions. The first of these
is the prevalence of the idea OF Nation-
al Unity. Of this spoke Washington in
h:a Faro we'll Ads3r.,a, x.,s h;s cove,